Axminster tubs feame



Sept. 25 1923. 1,469,180

E. F. HATHAWAY AXMINSTER TUBE FRAME Filed March 6, 1922 lzzvent L'ziyazr 1 .12am wa e Zflzwm 901mm any.

Patented Sept. 25, 1923.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, 0F WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 SHAWMUT ENGINEERING COMPANY, MASSACHUSETTS.

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF .AXMINSTER TUBE FRAME.

' Application filed March 6,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that 1., Elicia F. TTATHA- WAY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of lVelleslcy, in the county of No elk and State of Massachusetts have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axminster Tube Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to'tubeframes such as are employed in supplying the tuft yarns in the operation of weaving Axminster car pets or other similar pile fabric; and is intended to remedy some of the practical objections incidental to the construction theretofore used in-this art.

As is understood by those-skilled in this art, the tube frames embrace generally speaking a longitudinal, carrier-structure .fo'rminga support by which the series of individual tube-members, which form guides for controlling and delivering the yarn between the warp threads and the yarn-supplying spool, are supported and maintained in correct co-operative relationship. The tube frames carry the series of tuft yarns, each spool containing yarns of various colors in a predetermined arrangement or or der. Each tube frame is carried into the machine usually by a pair of sprocket chains which serve to convey the individual tube frame into position to perform its operation of delivering the series of tuft tubes between the warp threads.

Inasmuch as it is vital to successful work that the individual tubes be not only accurately and uniformly spaced on the'carrier structure, but that the tube frame as a whole be moved into position to deliver the yarn with absolute precision and uniformity to enable the tuft tubes to pass betweenzthe proper warp threads. it is obvious that any construction which permits the position of successive tube frames orsuccessive delivery movements of the same tube frame to vary in a lengthwise direction. tends to impair the accuracy and reliability of the mechanism.

As heretofore constructed the means for suspending the tube frame from its chain carrier or conveyor comprised two approximately vertical sheet metal arms. one of which was adapted to be sprung away'from I the other to allow the suspenson arm or bracket to be inserted in the carrying link of the conveyor, while normally serving to 1922. Serial N0. 541,336.

keep the bracket operatively engaged with a supporting link or member by a hook engagement. In practice however, such flexible sustaining or positioning arms easily becomebent or displaced and this results in causing a sufficient longitudinal displacement of the position of the tube frame to interfere with the proper delivery of the tuft yarns between the appropriate warp threads. This necessitated careful and painstaking straightening or resetting of the suspension arms and has occasioned conslderablepractical difficulty in the operation of the tube frame. 7

The present invention overcomes this difiiculty by providing a construction in which the two co-operating' suspension members at each end of the tube frame are made rigid or inflexible, provision being made by a pivotal joint between them. and a yielding tension device to yieldingly maintain these two rigid suspension members at each end of the tube frame in operative position to securely attach the tube frame to its carrier in such manner that the tube frame is capable of quickattachment to and detachment from its carrier chain and at the same time preventing any longitudinal displacement of the tube frame due to distortion or bendinir of the suspension members.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the main carrier bar of the tube frame with tube-positioning-holding means for guiding and spacing the individual tubes so arranged as to firmly hold and reenforce the individual tubes in operative position on the carrier bar while permitting the quick detachment of the tubes therefrom.

These and other features of the inventionwill be particularly described in this specification and defined in the claims hereto annexed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a simple and convenient form of construction embodying the principles of this invention, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view showing an end view of the tube frame as seen when placed in horizontal position.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing one of the suspension members detached from the other parts.

In the practice of the invention accordgularly disposed flange a which is provided wlth "aseries' of transverse slots accurately dimensioned and spaced to receive the narrow forward-or delivery'ends Z) of the in dividual tube-members 7). take ends of the tube=members lnto wh ch The rearor inthe corresponding tuft yarns from the yarn spool m are inserted or threaded have their under or back faces in plane surface contact withthe outer face of the carrier bar a and the continuatioi'i of this tare 'iorn'ied "by the projecting limb of the angle bar d As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the forward, or inthis case, de-

livery ends of the individual tubes are 'reduced in width as shown at Z); to permit each delivery tube to pass between adjacent warp threads for the purpose of delivering the tuft yarn there-between. This reduced portion of each tube lies snugly within its appropriate slot in the ledge or flange (J3, while the-upper or rear end-of the tube 18 clamped securely to the carr er hereby means of any suitable connection, such the detachable slotted clamping bard? 1 7 I It will be seen that the extension and spacing support 00 forms a continuation oi the face of the carrier bar against which the flat back or under sides of the tubes are clamped and thus forms a material ad-,

'dition to the backing face against which the individual tubes are clamped for support, 'and in this way adds to the rigidity and strength of the tube supporting connection; 7 V

The spool-supporting arm which forms one of the co-operating si'ispensionl mem- Vbers, comprises tairlyhea'vy rigid bracket 0 havinga projecting boss of of a form, in this case, rectangular, to fit snugly 1nto fthe inside oi the tubular carrier bar a. The boss is tapped on opposite sides, preferably 'thefront and backsides, to receive fastening screws 0 whichpass through aligning perforations inthe side walls otthe tube so that the bracket is locked withabsolute rigidity and firmness to the carrier bar. -Ar- 'ranglng the 'fastenlng screws "0 to i p s through the front and back walls of the earrierbar altords easy access to the screws unobstructed by theoverhea'd spool." The bracket 0 is provided with anadditional 'bossc formed with 'a central transverse bore at c to aflord a bearing for the journal o'flthe rotatable'yarn spo'oln'a: Aboveth1s comprising substantially an journal theubracket is extended or offset laterally tor a short distance, and is then carried upward With its end coming to wedge-shaped point 07 to facilitate its entering the link in the carrierv V ha in.

The offset portion of the bracket as shown at 0 is slotted mam" a guide or keeper for the co-operating suspension member d, which is also sutficiently rigid to avoid bending under service strains, havingat its upper end a link'engaging' hook (Z The rigid hook (Z is provided at its lower end with an ofl'set hook adapted to pass into a recess formed in the bracket 0, in which it is pivotally secured on a pivot pin (Zk In the countersunk recesse on theoutertacc of the bracket is seated a compressitm spring of suitable size. and tension to keep the hook (Z normally pressed into engagement against the'upward extension 1; of

the bracket 0.

This construction allows the suspension members to beseparated in this caseby'the movement of the hook member d against the tension of its spring so as to permit the insertion of the upper end of the arm 0 into the supporting linldthe'hookbeing preferably beveledat its upper end so that the mere upward pressure against the link ofthe carrier chain, which is indicated in" dotted lines in Figure 1, is sufficient to open.

the hook, the same being automatically closed by the spring (i when the suspension members havebeen passed a suificient distance beyond, the upper edge of the'lin'lc The rigidity of the parts comprising the suspension structure'does away entirely with their displacement or distortion longitudi nally of the tube tr-anie; which has been an incident to the used the spring metal suspension members heretofore employed.

As these suspension membersare'themselyes" inflex ble or unbending, so far as ordinary,

service" strains are concerned; they are inl l 'f cziusing lengthwise displacement V oit thc tube traine'ifrom correct operative po SitlOIl. The rigid polygonal boss 0' fitt ng snugly into the end ot t he tubular carrier b arafi'ords a further element of rigidity to prevent displacement," while the long 'sup J-porting surface afforded by} the extension ll O supporting member a gives additionelse' curity against displacement bf the 'tubemembers when assembled 'operatively' on the carrier-structure. U I l It may be obsewed'that the construction by which the vertical suspension hangers are secured to the carrier b-arafiords an exceedingly strong and rigid Joint yet with out interfering with thedetachability of these members. This is clu'e prii-i'cipally to Y the 'fact that the laterally projecting attach:

lug members of the hangers are so propon.

tioned and arranged in relation to the walls of the carrier bar which they engagefthat' such interlocking engagement alone, even before the fastening screws are applied, acts to prevent either transverse or torsional displacement between the carrier bar and its hangers. Furthermore, the attaching members are so disposed on the inside faces of the hangers as to allow the end edges of the carrier barto abut solidly againstt-hc inside faces of the hangers thus imparting additional solidity and stiffness to the frame. The pivotal axis of the. hooked latch is protected by mounting it inside the receiving recess or transverse slot formed for that purpose in the suspension arm. Hence it will be seen that by the various features of construction shown and described the individual tuft tubes are firmly and rigidly attached by a detachable spacing connection with the carrier bar while the carrier bar and the hangers themselves form a supporting frame of. the utmost rigidity and stiffness, and such frame is relia spool and. without rendering it necessaryto remove the yarn spool to tighten or remove these fastening screws.

lVhat I claim is: I

1. In a tube frame for tuft weaving, the combination ofa longitudinal tube-support ing bar, vertical suspension arms rigidly secured to said bar to support said bar and a yarn spool in operative relationship, attaching members projecting laterally from the inside faces of the lower ends ofsaid arms to form telescopic interlocking engagement with said bar, said attaching members being proportioned and arranged to prevent, by such engagement, angular and transverse displacement between the bar and said arms, and fastening means for preventing endwise displacement between the arms and the bar, substantially as described.

2. In a tube frame for tuft weaving, the combination with a longitudinal carrier bar, of spool-supporting hangers secured to the opposite ends of the bar said hangers and bar being constructed to have mutual interlocking engagement acting to prevent angular and transverse displacement between the hangers and the bar, and means for rigidly securing the bar to said hangers when arranged in such interlocking position, sub stantially as described.

3. In a tube frame for tuft weaving. the combination of a longitudinal carrier bar, vertical suspension. arms having inwardly projecting attaching members located at heir lower ends fastening means for rigdly securing the attaching members inside nembers being formed to maintain holding .:ngagement with the bottom and'sides of the bar and thereby support lateral and torsional strains and relieve the fastening means of such strains, substantially as described.

4-. in a tube frame for tuft weaving, the combination of a longitudinal hollow carrier oar, suspension armssecured across the ends of said bar and having attaching members projecting inwardly from their lower endportions inside the hollow ends of the bar 'in engagement with t e front and rear side walls of the bar, and fastening devices inserted through said side walls of the bar and secured in said attaching members thereby affording access to the fastening de vices unobstructed by the spool, substantially as described. 7

5. In a tube frame for tuft weaving, the combination with a longitudinal hollow carrier bar, of suspension hangers adapted to be secured to opposite ends of the tubular bar, the attaching members projecting inwardly from the lower end portions of said bar to engage interior walls thereof, said attaching members being located somewhat inside the lower end portions of the suspension hangers to allow the edges of the bar to abut firmly against the inside faces of the hangers, and means for rigidly securing the bar and the hangers together in such abut-- ting relationship, substantially as described.

.6. In a loom, a pattern chain, a supporting member, a spool bearing bracket secured thereto, a substantially rigid integral chain engaging hook member connected to said bracket and having a. hook at its free end. the other end of said hook member and said bracket being formed as parts of a pivotal connection between said hook member and bracket, and resilient means to force said hook yieldingly outward.

.7. A. suspension hanger for a tuft-tube frame embracing in its construction an inner vertical arm adapted tobe rigidly secured to the end of the tuft-tube carrier bar, and having an upward chain-engaging extension outwardly offset from its lower bar-attaching portion, a chain, engaging rigid hook-arm pivotally mounted in the lower portion of the inner arm with its upper hooked end disposed inside said upward extension and normally spring pressed toward said extension in order to form therewith a suspension connection with a carrier chain that is releasable by inward pressure of transfer mechanism, substantially as described.

8. A suspension hanger for a tuft-tube frame embracing in its construct-ion a spool bearing arm adapted to, be rigidly secured he ends of the tubular bar, said attaching.

outwardly offset therefrom, a ri to the. end of a tuft tube carrier-bar, and

comprising a lower bar-attaching portion and an upward chain-engaging extension gid hook arm pivotally fulcrumed in a recess formed in said: lower bar-attaching portion, and having at its upper end a chain-engaging hook and at its lower endan inwardly pro-' jecting member adapted to project into said recess of the spool-carrying arm forits fulcral support,,snbstantially' as described.

"9.A suspension hanger for a tuft-tube .frame embracing in its construction a spoolsupporti-ngarm'adapted to be rigidly so cured to a tart-tube carrier bar compris ng a lower bar-attachlng'portion' and an'upper chain-engaging neinber, a rigid chain-engaginghook arm haying pivotal connection with said lower bar-attach ng port on to be pressed inwardly against the outer face of said spool-supporting armfby tube frame transfer mechanism, and a spring interposed between the two armsto press the h k 'y eldi gly int en g me w a carrier chain, substantially described.

10. A suspension hangerfor a tuft-tube V 'fraine embracing in its construction aspoolsupporting arm having; an outwardlyoifset chain-engaging member at its upper end and having inwardly disposed bar-attaching and spool-bearing members the latter ineinber locatedabove' said bar-attaching inembe r and a rigid ohaiiii-engag ng hook arm fulcruined on the spool-supporting armbelow level of the spool bearing; and a and supporting slots rigidlysecured an external face o'f the carrier bar, and a row. o tuf ube n e in sa d lqis p b held therein side by side with'their back.

Walls in engagement with a reinforcing face'of the angle'strip, substantiallyas scribed. i

12. A tube frame for tuft weaving embracing a' hollow longitudinal tube-carrying bar of substantially polygonal cross section combined with spool-supporting suspension hangers having attaching" members, inserted o and rigidly secured inside the opposite ends of the bar'and an exteriorly disposed transversely slotted tiibereceiving and support-' ing angle-bar rigidly secured to an exterior face of'th'e hollow whereby theftuft i s 1 2 the yarn Sup -Spo may held in positively yxed relationsl ip, sub

stent al y a ld crib di i r I 13. In atube frame for tuft weaving the combination of atubular carrier-bar for supporting a'row oft ift tubes side by side,

u t t b a a hin and, ppe' s ni t c mpr n a ex iei l i e t id m angleba'r' (having 7 an outwardly projecting slotted "ledge forming positioning, support "around the tubularbody of eachtuit'tube,

an interniediate nieinber affording a rein forcing backing engaging the' baick' walls of the tuft tubes and "an; attachin g l ed e arranged to be firmly "securedto the" bottom wall! of ween-net bar,

s i b *M. In a tube frame fortuft weaving the combination of 'a "hollow longitudinal car rier'bar. a spool-beari11g bracket provided with a ochain-engaglng portion, spool-bean ranged to project inside theholloW in contact with the side and bottom walls'of saidb'ar, and means for securing said bracket rigidly in position, all partsjoi' said bracket beingforn ed 'of'a single piece of'metal, substantially asdescrlbed." i

, 80 mg portion and anattachlng' phrtion ark In witness whereof, haye subscribed the above specification.

'EPGAR ti iarliaway. 

